?Recent accidents result in injuries, charges being filed against two individuals

Written by Marty Randall

Wednesday, 10 December 2008 00:00

? Recent vehicular accidents in Scott County have involved some injuries as well as some criminal charges being filed against people involved and an errant bed mattress.
A most unusual accident, involving the mattress, occurred November 23 on U.S. Highway 31 South at Armory Drive in Scottsburg.
Ervin E. Beswick, 70, Milton, Fl., was driving a 1995 Chevy S10 pickup on U.S. 31 when a mattress he was hauling in the bed of the truck flew out and landed on the highway.
Marilyn J. Robbins, 37, Scottsburg stopped her 1995 Ford Thunderbird as did another vehicle, but a 2004 Hyndai operated by Jason T. Spicer, 22, Scottsburg, struck the T-bird as Robbins apparently attempted to go around the mattress but then braked.
No one was hurt in the mishap, which caused approximately $10,000 in property damage. The accident was covered by Lt. Richey Barton with assistance from Patrolman Rodney Watts, both of the Scottsburg Police Department.
On Tuesday, November 25, a collision occurred at the intersection of Weir Road and Wilson Road on Scottsburg’s north side shortly after 12 noon.
A 1996 Dodge Caravan operated by John H. McCoskey, 80, Scottsburg, had started to pull off Weir Rd. onto Wilson Rd. and struck a southbound 2007 Chevy driven by Deborah P. Knight, 39, Floyds Knobs.
Knight indicated to the officer, Sgt. Brian Hall, that she was experiencing back pain, but she apparently declined medical attention at the scene.
Damage was estimated at up to $1,000.
On November 26, another crash happened at State Road 56 at Michael Drive just past Wal-Mart at 10:46 p.m.
Driver Martin H. Hall, 19, Scottsburg had apparently pulled out of Michael Drive in his 1992 Chevy S10 pickup. He hit a 1999 Pontiac Sunbird driven by Stacey Robinson, 22, Scottsburg, which was eastbound on S.R. 56, in the front passenger side.
Hall was cited by Scottsburg Patrolman Steven Herald for two counts of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and one count of illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor, all misdemeanor charges.
Robinson was treated at the scene by Scott County EMS and then transported to Scott Memorial Hospital with a possible neck injury.
Officers assisting at the scene included Ptl. Troy Ford and Indiana State Trooper Matt Marshall.
Damage was estimated at up to $25,000.
On Friday, November 28, ISP Trooper Shannon Burton was dispatched to the scene of a one-vehicle accident on State Road 256 about 1,000 feet east of Bogardus Road.
There, he found driver Kristy Barrett, Austin, in the wreckage of her 1994 Pontiac Grand Prix. Barrett told the officer that she had been eastbound on S.R. 256 when she looked down at her radio. The car ran off the road to the south, flipped and landed back on its tires in the ditch line. The mishap occurred around 12:45 p.m.
Barrett had been using her safety harness, which lessened her injuries. She was assisted out of the car and examined at the scene by Scott County EMS technicians, who then transported her to the Scott Memorial. Jennings Township volunteer foremen assisted at the scene.
The vehicle was a total loss, according to Trp. Burton. He was assisted at the scene by Trooper Ray Dawson.
Two injury accidents occurred on Monday, December 1, within 45 minutes of each other.
Shortly after 4 p.m., three vehicles were involved in an accident on U.S. Highway 31 North at Terrell Road, located at the south end of Marshfield Bridge.
According to the report filed by Sgt. Brian Hall, a 1995 Ford Ranger operated by Edward M. Calton, 34, Deputy, struck the rear of a 1992 Toyota pickup driven by Daniel F. Wade, 50, Scottsburg, as both were headed north on U.S. 31. Wade had stopped on the highway to turn onto Terrell Rd., and Calton apparently told the officer that he became distracted while trying to light a cigarette and did not notice the stopped pickup.
The impact of the crash forced the Toyota into the path of a southbound vehicle, and those collided, knocking the little pickup into a nearby yard. The Ranger had ended up on the east side of U.S. 31.
Two people in the third vehicle left the scene before police could arrive, the report indicated. It was a 2000 Alero, which, investigation revealed, was purchased by a Madison woman. That car and the others were towed from the scene.
Calton and Wade were both listed as injured and were treated by Scott County EMS. Property damage was listed up to $25,000.
Sgt. Hall was assisted by Sheriff John Lizenby at the scene.
Just before 5 p.m., a second injury accident occurred, this time on State Road 203 about 3,000 feet north of Plymouth Road in Lexington Township.
Driver Andrew W. Johnson, 31, of Kinderhook Road, told Deputy Mark Shapinsky that he was headed south on S.R. 203 when the brakes on his 1977 Dodge Aspen apparently failed as he came around a curve. The car went off the right side of the road, hitting a water hydrant and several trees. Total property damage was listed at up to $2,500. Sheriff Lizenby also assisted at this accident.
Johnson was uninjured. He was charged on December 2 with two counts of misdemeanor OVI in Scott Superior Court. His trial on the charges is scheduled for February 10, and he was released to home incarceration at his cost.